Unemployed veterans now fighting for jobs

May 20, 2010

The unemployment rate for veterans in Virginia is 5.8 percent.

They fought for this country, now they're fighting for jobs. The unemployment rate for veterans in Virginia is 5.8 percent. The Virginia Employment Commission and Department of Veterans Affairs held a job fair just for veterans at the Roanoke Valley Workforce Center Thursday afternoon.

Frank Boyd served in the U.S. Navy and smiled as he passed out his resume to companies. Boyd hopes for the best but realizes he's fighting a few battles when it comes to getting a job. "It's still difficult because it's in the back of my mind, if they have the choice to pick someone between my age and someone in his forties, they're going to pick the person in their forties."

Fellow veteran, Sammie Kemp agrees. Kemp says while he's grateful for this job fair, geared toward veterans, when he applies for jobs on most days, his service is weightless. "My personal opinion is they look at you like you're just another guy, it doesn't matter if you served in a war for your country or anything else. See, if they haven't been there, they don't know."

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Tonia Hackett with Optical Cable Corporation disagrees. She says she takes it into account, as long as the veteran has the same qualifications as the other people applying for the job. In fact, it looks as if one vet found his job today. Hackett told us, "I met one fella just out of the Army. He had done customer service and payroll. We're looking for both those positions, so he can take his pick on which one he'd like to have."